Death Watch (1980)
La mort en direct (original title)Reference View | Change View
- R
- 2h 10min
- Drama, Sci-Fi
- Apr 1982 (USA)
- Movie
In a future where dying of illness is exceedingly rare, a terminally ill woman becomes a celebrity and a man with camera implants goes to secretly record her for a morbid TV show.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 1 win & 8 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Romy Schneider | ... |
Katherine Mortenhoe
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| Harvey Keitel | ... |
Roddy
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| Harry Dean Stanton | ... |
Vincent Ferriman
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| Thérèse Liotard | ... |
Tracey
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| Max von Sydow | ... |
Gerald Mortenhoe
(as Max Von Sydow)
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| Caroline Langrishe | ... |
Girl in the Bar
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| William Russell | ... |
Dr.Mason
(as William Russel)
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| Vadim Glowna | ... |
Harry Graves
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| Eva Maria Meineke | ... |
Dr. Klausen
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| Bernhard Wicki | ... |
Katherine's Dad
(as Bernard Wicki)
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Freddie Boardley | ... |
Technician
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| Robbie Coltrane | ... |
Limosine driver
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Julian Hough | ... |
Young doctor
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Peter Kelly | ... |
Technician
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Boyd Nelson | ... |
Policeman
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Billy Riddoch | ... |
Truck driver
(as Bill Riddoch)
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Derek Royle | ... |
Matthieson
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Ida Schuster | ... |
Old woman
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John Shedden | ... |
Priest
(as John Sheddon)
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Vari Sylvester | ... |
Saleswoman
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| Jimmy Yuill |
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Paul Young | ... |
Police officer
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Jake D'Arcy | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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David Haubenstock | ... |
Boy in Park (uncredited)
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Maureen Jack | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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| Bill Nighy | ... |
Man in 'Harriet scene' (uncredited)
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| Alan Tall | ... |
Demonstrator (uncredited)
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Carey Wilson | ... |
Autograph hunter (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Bertrand Tavernier | ||
Written by
| David Compton | ... | (novel "The Continuous Katherine Mortenhoe, or The Unsleeping Eye") |
| David Rayfiel | ... | () |
| Bertrand Tavernier | ... | () |
| Géza von Radványi | ... | (German dialogue) (as Geza Von Radvany) |
Produced by
| Gabriel Boustiani | ... | delegate producer (as Gabriel Boustani) |
| Jean-Serge Breton | ... | executive producer |
| Sigmund Graa | ... | associate producer |
| Elie Kfouri | ... | producer |
| Georg M. Reuther | ... | associate producer (as George Reuther) |
| Renzo Rossellini | ... | associate producer (uncredited) |
| Janine Rubeiz | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Bertrand Tavernier | ... | co-producer |
Music by
| Antoine Duhamel | ||
Cinematography by
| Pierre-William Glenn | ... | (as Pierre William Glenn) |
Editing by
| Michael Ellis | ||
| Armand Psenny | ||
Editorial Department
| Sophie Cornu | ... | assistant editor |
| Luce Grunenwaldt | ... | assistant editor (as Luce Grunenwald) |
Casting By
| Mary Selway | ||
Production Design by
| Anthony Pratt | ... | (as Tony Pratt) |
Art Direction by
| Bernd Lepel | ... | (as Bern Lepel) |
Costume Design by
| Judy Moorcroft | ||
Makeup Department
| Jean-Max Guérin | ... | hair stylist (as Jean-Max Guerin) |
| Paul Le Marinel | ... | key makeup artist |
Production Management
| Iain Smith | ... | unit production manager |
| Louis Wipf | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Jean Achache | ... | assistant director |
| Uzan Jean-Louis | ... | trainee assistant director (as Jean-Louis Uzan) |
| Charlotte Trench | ... | second assistant director |
| Trudy von Trotha | ... | assistant director (as Trudy Von Trotta) |
| David Haubenstock | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Terry Dalzell | ... | property master |
| John Hoesli | ... | assistant art director |
Sound Department
| Michel Desrois | ... | sound |
| Catherine Kelber | ... | sound editor |
| Jean-Pierre Lelong | ... | foley artist |
| Dominique Levert | ... | sound assistant |
| Catherine Leygonie | ... | post-synchronization |
| Jacqueline Porel | ... | post-synchronization |
| Claude Villand | ... | sound mixer |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Jacques Arhex | ... | photographer |
| Albert Bonomi | ... | key grip |
| Michael Coulter | ... | second assistant camera (as Mike Coulter) |
| Pascal Lebègue | ... | assistant camera (as Pascal Lebegue) |
| René Rochera | ... | chief electrician (as Rene Rochera) |
| Jean-Claude Vicquery | ... | camera operator |
| Georges Pierre | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Nadia Arthur | ... | wardrober |
| Monique Dury | ... | wardrober |
| Inge Heer | ... | assistant costume designer |
Music Department
| Roger Mason | ... | composer: title song "For the Love of the Golden City" |
| Harry Rabinowitz | ... | conductor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Alice Ziller | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Marianne Devis | ... | production secretary |
| Anne-Marie Otte | ... | administrator |
| Silvain Samama | ... | administrator |
| Nicole Souchal | ... | production secretary |
| Julie Christie | ... | voice dubbing: Thérèse Liotard (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Jacques Tourneur | ... | dedicatee |
Production Companies
- Selta Films (co-production)
- Little Bear (co-production)
- Sara Films (co-production)
- Gaumont International (co-production)
- Films A2 (co-production)
- TV13 Filmproduktion (co-production)
- Société Française de Production (SFP) (co-production)
Distributors
- Planfilm (1980) (France) (theatrical)
- StudioCanal (2021) (France) (Blu-ray) (box-set)
- Contemporary Films (1981) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Gaumont Italia (1980) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Gofilex (1980) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Jugendfilm-Verleih (1980) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Mundial Filmes (1980) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Producciones Imperial (1981) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Atlas Video (West Germany) (VHS)
- Best 1 Video (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Embassy Home Entertainment (video)
- Filmjuwelen (2020) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Filmjuwelen (2020) (Germany) (DVD)
- France 3 (1991) (France) (tv)
- Mundial Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
- Quartet Films (1982) (United States) (dubbed)
- RTL-TV (1985) (Luxembourg) (tv)
- Shout! Factory (2012) (United States) (DVD)
- Shout! Factory (2012) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- The Criterion Channel (2021) (United States) (tv) (digital)
- Toppic (West Germany) (VHS)
- Tubi TV (United States) (video) (streaming)
- Vidage (1988) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Video Classics (1982) (Australia) (video)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Alga-Samuelson (camera equipment)
- Toronto International Film Festival (festival)
- Transpalux (electric equipment)
- Tri-Track Sync (post-synchronisation)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Roddy has a camera implanted in his brain. He is then hired by a television Producer to film a documentary of terminally ill Katherine, without her knowledge. His footage will then be run on the popular television series, "Death Watch".
Written by Philip Brubaker |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | She's the target of every eye...including eyes only science could create. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | At one point in the film, Gerald Mortenhoe (Max von Sydow) tells some historical facts about the Medieval French Composer Robert De Bauleac, while listening to one of his works on a record player. When the film was released, numerous music lovers tried to get a copy of the same record in specialized stores, which could never provide any for a very good reason: Robert De Bauleac has never existed, and the composition heard in the film is Antoine Duhamel's work. However, the concerned piece of music, "Robert De Bauleac's Lament," has been since available as part of the complete movie soundtrack. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Romy: A Free Woman (2022). See more » |
| Soundtracks | For The Love Of The Golden City See more » |
| Quotes |
Vincent Ferriman:
Look how shy we've become about death. It's the new pornography. See more » |